CITIES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
COMMUNITIES BRING CITIES TO LIFE!
What is Urban Justice? | Global Movements Map | Global Poll Results | Urban Stories | Issues | Taking Action around the World
What is Urban Justice?
More than half the global population now lives in cities. As massive, growing arenas of culture, politics and resistance, cities are the centre of crucial events and decisions that affect the whole planet, not only because of the increasing impact of climate change, especially on the most marginalised, but through the transformations being driven by communities and urban movements.
Greenpeace’s Urban Justice is a story about people’s collective power in and around cities. It’s about the urban side of nature and how diverse forms of life can support each other to thrive in cities.
Join us in making cities all around the world a safe, resilient and sustainable vision for our shared future!
To commemorate #WorldCitiesDay on 31st October, Greenpeace International together with Clima e Mobilidade and the UMI Fund have launched an interactive, crowdsourced map providing information and resources for grassroots groups, organisations, and movements working on #UrbanJustice related issues across the world.
The Global Poll results are in!
47%
Less than half of people asked feel safe from extreme weather events.
46%
Cited traffic congestion an issue affecting daily life, health, and well-being.
42%
Perceived air pollution as one of the biggest environmental problems.
As temperatures break records in cities like Sao Paulo and Manila and air quality declines in Jakarta and Delhi, on average less than half of people feel safe from extreme weather events, according to new Opinion Poll commissioned by Greenpeace International in seven major cities across the Global South.
Presented in the context of the upcoming UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the poll found that when asked about the biggest problems in their cities, the top two responses given are commonly linked to climate change: traffic congestion (46%) and air pollution (42%). Other top answers include crime and violence (42%), corruption (40%), unemployment (34%) and the increasing number of people moving to cities (34%).
Despite the adverse context, over half of the urban residents consulted (56%) are optimistic about the future and believe that their city could become their “dream city”. At the same time, the poll shows that the safer people feel from extreme weather events, the more optimistic they are about their cities becoming their “dream city”.
Based on the poll results, this ‘Visual Utopia’ animation depicts what the people of Nairobi envisioned for their dream city:
Animation produced by Jan Kamensky, featuring artwork from James Mbuthia.
Urban Stories
All around the world, communities are proving that the solutions already exist, and are actively transforming cities for the better.
From Bangalore to Bogotá, and from accessible mobility to sustainable waste management systems, communities are working towards safer, cleaner, more inclusive cities.
The future of transport in India
It works.
People powering clean rivers
40 years of taking pride in her city
Jakarta, Indonesia
“We hope that environmental pollution caused by these companies will no longer exist, and residents will live healthier, safer, more peaceful and prosperous lives, that’s all.”
– Cecep Supriyadi, Citzens Forum against air pollution, Jakarta, Indonesia
Recife, Brazil
“Just by existing in this city we already contribute a lot. Our contribution is to live, to face, to resist.”
– Sarah Marques do Nascimento, Social Educator, Recife, Brazil
Bogotá, Colombia
Flor Alba García Pérez (55) has been a waste picker for more than 40 years, following the family legacy in doing this work. By doing so, she has not only reduced polluting emissions from waste, but has also fought for the dignity of her profession and that of almost 60,000 other waste pickers in Colombia.